Laser surveying

Press, 17 September 1987, Page 53

Laser surveying

The impact of changing technology on the surveying industry is probably well illustrated by items such as the Laser Beacon 5000 from Laser Alignment.

This is a triple grade laser for the most demanding of construction and agricultural jobs. The versatility of the 5000 gives contractors much better utilisation of the equipment. It is a highly advanced and developed system featuring fully automatic level and grade facility. An added feature is the elevation alert mode which eliminates the possibility of errors should the laser be disturbed and re-levelled at a different instrument height. The model 5000 provides contractors in the civil and agricultural industry with a 360 degree rotating level, single or dual grade reference plane with the ability to promote cost savings and greater efficiency. In addition, the 5000 can be laid on its side, and easily converted to a sewer and storm water pipelaying laser, hence triple grade laser. It can also do 90 degree layouts and has two vertical align-

ment modes, a vertical rotating beam, or a vertical stationary beam. This laser is ideal for earthmoving contractors, farm drainage contractors, civil site-work contractors, builders and pipelaying contractors. It is used for surveying, grade control, automatic or manual machine control and pipelaying. Other applications include site preparation (grading and levelling), excavating footings, spreading of subbase material, farm drainage installations, irrigation and survey set-out and control of playing fields, etc. The model 5000 and model 5030 AG (dual grade), replaces the function of the "two man” dumpy or engineers level for setting out cut pegs, profiles or string lines to control job accuracy. With the one man system using the rodeye-2 survey sensor mounted on a staff, or the machine mounted highly visible 360 degree sensor, job-site level control is very efficiently maintained while saving many hours in setting out the machine time. The new 360 degree sensor, model 3800, features a highly visible

diode display which indicates high, low, or on grade position. It also has a dual band selection providing a narrow centre band for close grading tolerances or a wide centre band for rough grading work. With the machine mounted sensor system, accuracy and productivity is increased, rework is eliminated and grading operations can be extended into a 24 hour operation. Trenchers, excavators, graders, dozers, etc., are precisely controlled to prevent over or under cutting thus saving time and costly materials. The cutting edge of the blade can be controlled manually by the operator adjusting the blade in conjunction with the display lights or can be automatically controlled by hooking directly into the hydraulics. When the laser beacon controls the machine, either manually or automatically, operator fatigue is reduced and accuracy is consistent. Equipment is better utilised, material and labour costs are saved, and the project is completed under budget and ahead of schedule. With rising costs and. competition

many contractors are benefiting by this advanced laser technology.